Biggest crime is of the heart
CSC theatre department to perform “Crimes of the Heart” over the weekend
Everyone has ‘crimes of the heart’, but can you handle the aftermath of those crimes?
Chadron State’s Theatre Department will try to reconcile with those consequences through their performance of the comedy, “Crimes of the Heart,” directed by David Craven, theatre interim director of theatrical performances, this weekend in the Black Box Theatre.
“I think the audience will enjoy the family elements of this story,” Olivia Freeze, 20, sophomore of Bridgeport, said. “There are moments that everyone with siblings can relate to, like silly arguments, and sweet moments that you’ll remember forever.”
Written by Beth Henley, “Crimes of the Heart” won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. The play is a comedy that follows the three Magrath sisters, Babe, played by Freeze; Lenny, played by Halle Smith, 20, sophomore of Wheatland, Wyoming; and Meg, played by Bruk Binyam, 21, senior of Denver.
“I really enjoy everyone I’ve worked with in this show,” Freeze said. “All my costars on stage are great to work across from. I really think we all have a great chemistry that helps make us believable as a family.”
The three sisters get back together for the first time in a decade under the scorching sun in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. As past resentments rise to the surface, the sisters, all who have ventured through different lives, each must come to terms with the consequences of her ‘crimes of the heart.’
The three sisters are also joined by Cheyenne Bacon, 20, junior of Lewellen, playing Chick; Brennan Ackerman, 18, freshman of Box Elder, South Dakota, playing Barnette; and Sam LaRive, 22, senior of Hot Springs, South Dakota, playing Doc.
“What I enjoy most about this, or any production in the theatre department, is the least often seen part, the development,” LaRive said. “The audience only sees the final product, but it is the conceptualization and construction that makes me the most excited. I consider myself very lucky to be a witness to the whole scope of a show’s creation.”
Audiences can see this production at 7 p.m., Thursday to Saturday with a matinee performance at 2 p.m., Sunday at the Black Box Theatre in Memorial Hall.
It will also return for two extra showings at 7 p.m., Feb. 25 and 26.
Freeze encourages people to reserve tickets ahead of time at csc.edu/theatre since seating is limited in the Black Box Theatre.
Halle Smith, right, 20, sophomore of Wheatland, Wyoming, playing Lenny, looks at Doc, played by Sam LaRive, 22, senior of Hot Springs, South Dakota, during Monday’s dress rehearsal of “Crimes of the Heart” in the Black Box Theatre. 
Olivia Freeze, front, 20, sophomore of Bridgeport, playing Babe, ducks under the phone cord while Barnette, played by Brennan Ackerman, 18, freshman of Box Elder, South Dakota, talks on the phone during dress rehearsal for “Crimes of the Heart” Monday in the Black Box Theatre. 
Halle Smith, front, 20, sophomore of Wheatland, Wyoming, playing Lenny, looks off to the side with Bruk Binyam, 21, senior of Denver, playing Meg, walks in behind Smith during dress rehearsal for “Crimes of the Heart” Monday in the Black Box Theatre. 
Bruk Binyam, left, 21, senior of Denver, playing Meg holds an envelope and yells at Brennan Ackerman, 18, freshman of Box Elder, South Dakota, playing Barnette, during dress rehearsal for “Crimes of the Heart” Monday in the Black Box Theatre. 
Cheyenne Bacon, 20, junior of Lewellen, playing Chick, points at a list over Lenny’s shoulder, played by Halle Smith, 20, sophomore of Wheatland, Wyoming, during dress rehearsal for “Crimes of the Heart” Monday in the Black Box Theatre. 
Halle Smith, front, 20, sophomore of Wheatland, Wyoming, playing Lenny, looks off to the side with Bruk Binyam, 21, senior of Denver, playing Meg, walks in behind Smith during dress rehearsal for “Crimes of the Heart” Monday in the Black Box Theatre. 